Tackling Price Surges, South Kalimantan Provincial Government Intensifies Cheap Markets and Mobile Shops
The Government of South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel) has officially activated the programme Gerakan Pasar Murah and Toko Keliling as a strategic step to maintain price stability and strengthen regional food security. This move was taken in response to the trend of rising prices of essential goods that has continued to increase during Ramadan and ahead of Idul Fitri.
Head of the Provincial Trade Office, Ahmad Bagiawan, said his side continues to closely monitor price movements of commodities in the field.
“During Ramadan and ahead of Idul Fitri, the prices of a number of essential goods have risen. One of the steps we take is to routinely monitor the prices of basic commodities and implement the cheap market movement programme in various regions,” he said on Saturday (7/3).
Outreach at 18 Strategic Points
During this Ramadan, the Kalsel provincial government plans to hold cheap markets at 18 points spread across 13 districts/cities, including one point dedicated to a particular professional group. The programme is carried out in collaboration with various organisations and vertical agencies.
In addition to cheap markets, the Kalsel Trade Office also operates a fleet of Mobile Shops. This innovation aims to accelerate the distribution of basic goods to areas facing supply constraints or significant price spikes.
“This is one of the regional government’s strategies to help people obtain basic goods at more affordable prices while also dampening potential price rises in the market,” added Ahmad. One of the crowds at which the campaign will be directed is the Ramadan Cake Fair area at Siring Nol Kilometer, Banjarmasin.
Weather Impacts and Crop Failures
The high prices of food in Kalsel at present have been triggered by extreme weather and floods that caused crop failures in several production centres, such as in Banjar Regency.
Based on monitoring data as of early March 2026, the prices of chilli have risen most sharply. Details of the prices of several commodities in markets at present follow:
The intervention through cheap markets is hoped to ease the economic burden on households amid ongoing price fluctuations.